SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARIA SOMERVILLE – ALL MY PEOPLE

Maria Somerville’s atmospheric debut, All My People, will make a wonderful addition to the pop world. The native Irish native singer-songwriter adopts an eclectic blend of modern dream pop and Irish folk in her new music. Using her angelic voice, Somerville explores the deeper themes of love and vulnerability.

Her music is soft and minimalistic, yet enticing. Heavily inspired by the culture of her homeland and youth, the seven-track LP shows off Somerville’s vulnerability. ”Eyes Don’t Say It” opens the album with dreamy, lo-fi synths and brings the listener into her world. The six-minute title track is hypnotic with resonating beats, synths, and melodic vocals. Somerville ends on a refreshing note, with the upbeat, optimistic “Brighter Days”, which reveals her lighter side.

Somerville, a bedroom producer, explored Ireland while recording the album. She traveled through Dublin, Cornamona, and Inis Óirr, a small island off the Irish west coast. She often found inspiration in her surroundings. “I wrote it with a strong feeling of place and experience of rural Ireland”, Somerville shares regarding “All My People”. “It explores the equanimity of rural freedom while touching on its supernatural aura and mysticism”.

With her vulnerable yet experimental approach, Somerville sets herself apart from the rest of today’s music scene. While still a newcomer to the indie-pop world, she has definitely caught the ears of listeners and made her mark.

McKenzie is an aspiring journalist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a passion for music. She started off her career as a weekly host on WHIP’s alternative rock show called the Core and is now freelancing. When she's not doing either of these, she’s probably at a house show or at home watching a documentary.